Savannah Standard

The Savannah-Chatham County Board of Public Education has announced Dr. Denise Watts as the sole finalist for the Superintendent position. Dr. Watts, recognized for her contributions to education quality improvement, was unanimously selected by the School Board after a comprehensive national search involving 49 applications and several interviews.

The Board believes Dr. Watts will continue and enhance the progress made under retiring Superintendent Dr. Ann Levett. A formal meeting to discuss her hiring is scheduled for later in June, with details to be posted on the District's website at www.sccpss.com.

Dr. Watts began her career in education as a principal in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, where she led significant academic growth and was named North Carolina Principal of the Year in 2008 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Her leadership extended to turning around one of the state's lowest-performing schools into one of its most improved.

She later joined district leadership roles, working with various schools to improve academic performance and graduation rates while addressing discipline issues and fostering teacher development.

Her experience expanded nationally when she became Chief of District Support at the University of Virginia's Partnership for Leaders in Education, collaborating with school districts across America on strategic improvements.

In Houston Independent School District, which serves 194,000 students across 247 schools, Dr. Watts reduced low-rated schools from 48 in 2021 to 11 in 2022 during her first year as Chief of Schools.

Dr. Watts employs a data-driven approach focused on student achievement and building relationships within educational communities. Her dedication aligns with the School Board's mission to foster lifelong learning and prepare students as successful citizens.

Information about Dr. Watts will be available under Georgia Open Records Act requirements upon request. The School Board plans to vote on her selection no sooner than 14 days from now during a public meeting whose date will also be posted online.